It comes as figures show pregnancy rates among under 18s of Afro-Caribbean descent are significantly higher than the national average.

Britain currently has the highest teenage conception rates in western Europe with 39,545 pregnancies among girls under 18 in England in 2004.

In 1999 the Government introduced a teenage pregnancy strategy in a bid to halve rates by 2010.

Now new data has revealed that since then teen pregnancies have soared by 43 per cent in some areas.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes said such rises do not appear to be not linked to deprivation.

Places such as Liverpool and Hackney have achieved major improvements while Newcastle and Manchester have not.

She has issued new guidance to encourage all authorities to do more to reduce rates - including suggesting they improve services aimed at young girls from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.

Figures show rates of teenage mothers are significantly higher than average among black, Caribbean and mixed white/black Caribbean groups.

Black British girls also have proportionally more abortions - accounting for nine per cent of total terminations on women under 18 even though they make up just three per cent of the population between 15 and 17.

Ms Hughes said: 'There are some BME groups for example Bangladeshi girls in Tower Hamlets where teenage pregnancy rates are much lower than the norm.

'There are other BME groups where the rates are much higher than the norm.'

In a letter jointly signed by health minister Caroline Flint, she urged health authorities and councils to ensure they provide services that girls from black and ethnic minority communities feel they can approach and trust.

'It is clear that some areas have put much more energy and commitment into tackling this complex problem than others,' she said.

She highlighted how the best performing areas have a senior official in charge of reducing teenage pregnancies and have good family planning services tailored to young people in their area.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said: 'Teenage pregnancy rates are at the lowest for 20 years.

'There are a number of factors which are associated with increased rates of teenage pregnancy including poverty, poor educational attainment, disengagement from school, living in care as well as ethnicity.

'The guidance we have issued this week aims to get local agencies to prioritise teenage pregnancy and work together with young people to make sure that their strategies are reaching young people who for whatever reason are at higher risk of teenage pregnancy.'

Vanessa Bridge of the Black Health Agency said: 'I think it is good that the Government is now focussing on working with black and minority ethnic young people.

'Sometimes one approach for all is not as effective as looking at specific groups and their needs.

'It is something that these communities have been highlighting since the teenage pregnancy strategy came about.

'There has been some work done but we need a coordinated approach and engage with young people from these communities.'

Earlier this week it emerged some girls as young as 13 may be getting pregnant as a 'career choice'.

Research by the Trust for the Study of Adolescence says that girls from poor areas sometimes think getting pregnant held a better future than getting a 'dead-end job.'